Guide fixture for flush tanks



Aug. 7, 1962 L. s. COFFELT GUIDE FIXTURE FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed Nov. 28,1960 [,ICoFFE Q 7' INVENTOR I I I a ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 7, 1962 3,047,881 GUIDE FIXTURE FOR FLUSH TANKS Lester S.Coficlt, 1814 Capitol Ave, Sacramento, Calif. Filed Nov. 28, 1960, Ser.No. 72,225 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) This invention relates to a guidefixture for flush tanks, the primary object of the invention being toprovide an improved guide fixture which may be readily attached to anddetached from a flush tank outlet fitting, for maintaining the ballvalve of the fiush tank aligned with its seat to insure proper seatingof the valve.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter embodying inwardly extended spring arms having offsetportions, the confronting open sides of the offset portions providing aguide for the valve rod to which the valve proper is secured, so thatthe valve will be maintained in alignment with its seat to insure theproper seating of the valve at all times.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve rod guidewhich will permit the valve supporting rod to be readily and easilysnapped into position between the spring arms of the guide, therebyeliminating the necessity of disconnecting the valve from its rod inorder to replace or remove the valve.

Still other objects, advantages and improvements will become apparentfrom the following specification, taken in connec ion with theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 11 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view through a modified form ofguide, parts thereof being broken away to illustrate the manner ofsecuring the guide arms to the securing clip.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises an outletfitting indicated generally by the reference character 5 which issecured within the usual flush tank, by means of a nut 6 threaded on theoutlet portion 7 of the valve assembly.

The reference character 8 indicates the usual ball valve of the flushtank, which seats in the cone shaped seat 9 as better shown by FIGURE 1of the drawing, the valve 8 being provided with the conventional guiderod 10 which is provided with a laterally extended end portion 11providing a stop to regulate the upward movement of the valve andprevent the valve from becoming disconnected from the fixture.

The device forming the subject matter of the present invention, embodiesa length of wide spring metal member 12 formed with a slot 13 dividingthe member 12 into later-a1 leg portions 14 and within which the innerends of the spring arms 15 are disposed, the extremities of the springarms 15 being extended inwardly locking the spring arms 15 to the springmember 12.

The free ends of the spring arms 15 are formed with offset portions 16which offset portions of the spring arms 15 have their open sidesconfronting providing a circular opening 17 for the reception of theguide rod 10, as better shown by FIGURE 3 of the drawing, theextremities of the spring arms 15 being curved outwardly as at 18providing a guide for the rod 10 so that the rod 10 may be readily andeasily positioned between the spring arms and held in such positionagainst accidental displacement.

A rivet indicated by the reference character 19 is provided for securingthe arms 15 together to insure the springing action of the arms toaccomplish the purpose of the invention.

The other ends of the arms 15 are curved laterally as at 19 and contactwith the inner surface of the outlet pipe portion of the fixture, asshown by FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

It might be further stated that the lower endsof the spring arms 12 arebent upwardly against the rear surfaces of the laterally curved ends 19of the arms 15, thereby securing them together.

The spring arm 12 has a laterally extended portion 20, the arm having areverted end portion 21 inclined upwardly in such a way that when theinverted end 21 of the arm 12 is forced into thelateral overflow passage22 it will set up a binding action between the laterally extendedportion 25, its inverted end 21 and the wall of the lateral overflowpassage of the fitting.

Thus it will be seen that due to this construction I have provided aguide fixture for flush tanks which may be readily and easily positionedwithin the conventional flush tank valve structure, and one wherein theconventional guide rod of the valve may be readily positioned withoutthe necessity of using tools in order to position or remove the same.

As shown by FIGURE 5 of the drawing, a length of spring metal materialindicated by the reference character 25 is bent upon itself providing aloop 26 through which the guide rod 27 is extended, the ends of saidarms 25 being secured to the spring arms 28 of the fitting, which springarms 28 are frictionally held within the lateral overfiow passage of theconventional flush tank valve fixture.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. The combinationwith the overflow passage of a flush tank fitting having a vertical wallportion, embodying a valve member operated by a lift rod, of a lift rodguide comprising a vertical leaf spring member having a lateralextension positioned within said overflow passage, terminating in aninverted spring and contacting with the wall of said overflow passage, apair of wide horizontal spring arms secured to and extending laterallyfrom said vertical spring member, said spring arms being securedtogether intermediate its free ends with the vertical wall portion ofsaid flush tank fitting and having confronting recesses adjacent saidfree ends providing a circular valve guide rod opening, and the freeends of said connecting spring arms being curved laterally for guiding avalve lift rod through said guide lift rod opening.

2. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, and said vertical springmember having a slot extending inwardly from one end thereof, in whichportions of said horizontal spring arms spaced from the free endsthereof are disposed, and portions of said vertical spring memberadjacent to said slot extending upwardly overlying portions of saidhorizontal spring arms, securing said spring arms to said verticalmember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,175,973 Reed Oct. 10, 1939 2,561,877 Limongelli July 24, 19512,735,112 Myers Feb. 21, 1956 2,778,028 Weiner Jan. 22, 1957 2,894,264Walter July 14, 1959 2,956,286 Coifelt Oct. 18, 1960

